Labour’s shadow minister for disabled people has attacked the government’s “reprehensible” failure to carry out an assessment of the overall impact of its cuts and reforms on disabled people. Anne McGuire said the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) had “refused […]
Labour conference: Mystery over Burnham’s social care integration plans
A Labour government would move to “integrate” social care with the NHS, the shadow health secretary has told the party’s annual conference. Andy Burnham told delegates in Manchester that he wanted an end to the current three “separate, fragmented” systems for […]
Labour conference: Party ‘must move away from toxic fitness for work policy’
A leading disabled activist has called on the Labour leadership to move away from its “toxic” position on the “fitness for work” test and instead develop policies that support sick and disabled people into work. The work capability assessment (WCA) was […]
Labour conference: Party will move ‘towards’ fully inclusive education system
A Labour government would aim to move – in the long term – towards an education system that is “fully inclusive” of disabled children according to the MP who has led its review into special educational needs (SEN). Sharon Hodgson told […]
COMMENT: Restricting disabled people to the fringes of the fringe
It wasn’t a shock that the Care and Support Alliance decided not to include my tweet on the large screen behind the speakers at their fringe event in Brighton. After all, the tweet read: “At Lib Dem conference. Looks like yet […]
Former DWP medical boss makes WCA pledge to protesters
A former Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) medical director has pledged to speak out about the government’s “fitness for work” test if he finds it is “not proper”, after he was ambushed by campaigners at a conference. Professor Sir Mansel […]
London 2012: Entire Paralympic team face extra disability living costs, says Clarke
Every one of Britain’s Paralympic squad faces extra living costs because of their impairment, according to the captain of Britain’s blind football team, the latest Paralympian to speak out on the importance of disability living allowance (DLA). David Clarke, who announced […]
COMMENT: The Paralympics closing ceremony: Petrol, flames and a faint whiff of tokenism
There was colour, there was smoke, the smell of petrol wafting towards the media seats, there were many, many flames, and there was a long, crowd-pleasing set from the band Coldplay. In many ways, last night’s Paralympics closing ceremony was a […]
London 2012: Marathon efforts of Weir and Woods bring home final medals
David Weir is to help carry the British flag at the closing ceremony of the London 2012 Paralympics this evening after another astonishing performance to win gold in the T54 marathon, a race he described as his “toughest” yet. Weir will […]
London 2012: Medal-winner says DLA ‘lets us be the best we can be’
A second medal-winning athlete has spoken of how disability living allowance (DLA) has allowed him and other British Paralympians to “be the best we can be”. David Smith was speaking after losing the BC1 boccia final to an “awesome” performance by […]